The Red Wings continue to search for help on defense, but it won’t include Wade Redden. They could instead take a look at Toronto’s Cody Franson.

Another possibility is Franson, who probably can be had for a third or fourth draft pick. Franson, 25, is 6-foot-5, shoots right-handed, and only makes $1.2 million and is in the last year of a deal that will leave him a restricted free agent this summer. He has 71 points in 198 games with the Leafs and Nashville Predators.

Franson can play special teams and is a good deal more physical than Jakub Kindl. Franson could give the Wings a little more comfort with their second and third pairings, giving them options as far as where to play Brendan Smith and Kyle Quincey.